Container sealing method



May 16, 1939. c. T. WALTER CONTAINER SEALING METHOD Original Filed Dec. 13, 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Charles Z'ZVaZZer Gttomeg A TTEST- May 16, 1939.

C. T. WALTER CONTAINER SEALING METHOD Original Filed Dec. 13, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 15, 1939- c.-T. WALTER 2,158,166

CONTAINER SEALING METHOD Original Filed Dec. 13, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 3nnentor Charles I IMiZzer (I ktotneg Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES CONTAINER SEALING METHOD Charles T. Walter, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Original application December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,181. Divided and this application October 2'7, 1937, Serial No. 171,282

2' Claims.

This invention relates to a method of applying coating material to the ends of container bodies.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 54,181, filed December 13,

5 1935, entitled Applicator which issued July 26,

1938, as Patent 2,124,722.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a method of coating the ends of container bodies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of sealing the ends of container bodies to prevent capillary attraction of the material placed within the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of applying a bead of. congealable material upon the peripheral edges of a container body.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow.

20 Reference is had to the drawings in which there is disclosed one form of apparatus with which the method of the present invention maybe practiced.

Figure 1 is a side view partly broken away illustrating a preferred embodiment of the device for carrying out the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view partly in section taken on line 33 of Figure l.

30 Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating means for inverting the container bodies as they are discharged from the material applying mechanism.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating the relationship of the inverting mechanism to the-material applying mechanism.

Figure 6 is an end view of the material applying mechanism in which is illustrated the scraping means secured at the ends thereof.

Figure 7 is a side view of the scraping means shown in Figure 6.

In the drawings, the numeral I represents suitable framework mounted upon standards or uprights 2, 3, 4, and 5. Standards 2, 3, 4, and 5 are bolted or otherwise secured to floor 6 by angle brackets I. I

Tray. 8 carries a working supply of a congealable material and is rigidly mounted upon raised platform 9 bolted or otherwise secured to framework L Roller I is secured to shaft journaled in bearings l2 and |3. Bearings l2 and I3 are secured by bolts l4 and I to flanges l6 and I! which are secured to framework I. Thrust movement of roller I0 is prevented by enlarged portions or collars 2| and 22 secured to shaft H between roller l0 and bearings l2 and I3, respectively. Roller I0 is partially submerged within the supply of congealable material contained in tray 8 and when rotated, is continuously supplied with a film of the material. Roller I 0 is graduated in diameter substantially onequarter of an inch to the foot from small end 23 ,to large end 24, to assure positive contact with the container bodies 25 carried from the small end to the large end. Shaft II is rotated by chain 26 trained between sprocket wheels 21 and 23 pinioned to shaft H and drive shaft 29, respectively. Shaft 29 is journaled in suitable bearings such as bearing 30 secured to beam 3| by bolts 32 and is driven by suitable gearing connected to a motor or other source of power not shown.

Roller 33 is secured to shaft 34 journaled in bearings 35 and 35. Bearings 35 and 36 are slidably mounted in guideways 31 and 38 provided on brackets 39 and 40 rigidly secured to supports 4| and 42, respectively. Supports 4| and 42 are secured to framework by bolts 43 and 44, respectively. Roller 33 is also graduated in A diameter substantially one-quarter of an inch to the foot in a direction counter to roller l0 and is held in adjustable relationship with roller ID by screw spindles 45 and 46 pivotally secured to bearings 35 and 36.

Screw spindles 45 and 46 are engaged in threaded openings provided in angle brackets 41 and 48 bolted or otherwise secured to supports 4| and 42, respectively. Roller 33 is maintained in end-to-end relation with roller ID by collars 49 and 50 pinioned to shaft 34 adjacent to bearings 35 and 36, respectively. Shaft '34 is driven by gear wheels 5| and 52 pinioned to shafts H and 34, respectively. 3 I

Figure 3 of the drawings presents a sectional view taken from the entranceend of container bodies 25, from which end roller I0 is shown as rotating in a clockwise direction while roller 33 is shown rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. Roller 33 serves as a scraping means to roller III by which the film of congealable material carried from tray 8 by roller Hi can be adjusted to any desired thickness. Only that thickness of film which can pass between the two rollers remains on the surface of roller I0 after passing the plane of adjustment with roller 33. The countergraduation of roller 33 in relation to roller I0 serves to uniformly regulate the film 5 clogging of applicating mechanism by reason of congelation of the congealable material is eliminated.

Scraping elements 53 and 54 are flexibly mounted at the ends of rollers I0 and 33. Scrapers 53 and 54 are rigidly secured to smooth spindles 55 and 58 journaled in suitable bearings provided in arms 51 and 58 of cross-piece 59. Crosspiece 59 is secured by bolts 60 and 6| to standards 82 and 83 secured by bolts 54 and to framework I.

Scrapers 53 and 54 are bent at their free ends in such a manner as to present scraping edges 68 and 81 against the edges of the, end faces of rollers I0 and 33. The scraper at each end is positioned as shown in Figures 6 and '7 whereby one scraper cleans the face of both rollers at that end. Scrapers 53 and 54 serve to prevent the congealable material from piling upon the ends of rollers I0 and 33 and are held in flexible engagement with the ends of rollers I0 and 33 by coil springs 68 pinioned to spindles 55 and 56 and their respective bearings. Spindles 55 and 58 are provided with winged handles 69 to provide means for flexing scrapers 53 and 54 away from rollers I0 and 33 to permit removal of congealed material which will tend to accumulate on the under surface of scrapers 53 and 54 from time to time. Material removed from-the ends of rollers I0 and 33 by scrapers 53 and 54 is deflected into tray 8.

Elongated plate I8 serves as a vertical wall to guide container bodies conveyed over roller I0.

Plate I0 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to frame I02 and to upright I4 by bolt I3. Guide plate I0 longitudinally traverses roller I0 slightly to one side of the axis of rotation of roller I0, by which a portion of the ends of the container bodies passing over roller I0 will engage roller I0 at a plane substantially vertical to its axis of rotation.

Endless belt I5 is mounted parallel to and a suitable distance from guide plate I0 by which container bodies 25 are held in frictional engagement with plate I0. Belt I5 is mounted upon drive pulley I6 and idler pulley I'I. Idler pulley I1 is mounted upon shaft I8 integral with standard I9, secured to framework I at its threaded end by nut 80. Drive pulley 'IB'is pinioned to shaft 8I journaled in tubular upright 82 secure to framework I by bolts 83.

Beveled gear 84 is pinioned to the lower end of shaft 8| andpis meshed with beveled gear 85 pinioned to shaft 86. Shaft 88 is journaled in bearings 81 secured by bolts 88 to brackets 89 rigidly secured to framework .I. Shaft 88 is driven by chain 90 trained between sprocket wheels 9| 1 tegralwith standard 95. Base 98 of standard is provided withslots 91 to provide adjustment of pulley 93in relation to'belt I5. Standard 95 is held in fixed position on framework I by bolts 98. Pulley 93 provides means for holding belt I5 taut around pulleys I8 and 11.

Plate 99 is rigidly secured by bolts I00 to standards 62 and 63. Plate 99 is mounted immediately in back of the working area of belt I5 and serves to prevent belt I5 from being deflected from a straight lineposition and thus assures positive rotation of the container bodies over roller I0.

As shown in Figure 6 of thedrawings, a portion of the lower ends of container bodies 25 is in substantially tangential engagement with roller l0. Due to the rotation of roller I0, that portion of the ends of the container bodies inengagement with roller I0 will be coated with a film of con-. gealable material by which to seal the container wall against capillary attraction of the product placed therein and simultaneously a bead of congealable material will be deposited against the inner peripheral edge of the container body as indicated by the numeral IOI in Figure 6 As the container bodies are rotatably conveyed over roller III, the entire periphery of the container end will be brought into engagement therewith.

It will be seen that by reversing the direction of rotation of roller I0 the congealable material will be deposited on the outer rather than the inner peripheral edge.

By the employment of two such rollers rotating in opposite directions over which the container bodies may pass in succession, a bead of material may be applied which will cover the end edges and lap over on the inner and outer peripheral edges. v

Rectangular frame I 02 is rigidly secured a suitable distance from the discharge end of the applicating mechanismby brackets I03 and bolts I04 to uprights I05 secured by bolts I08 and I0I to framework I and crossbeam I08, respectively. Frame I02 encompasses the path of travel of container bodies 25 and provides a suitable anchorage for a guide means and one end of an inverting means through which the container bodies are passed after their discharge from the applicating mechanism.

Rectangular frame I09, of similar shape and size to-frame I 02, is rigidly secured by bolts IIO to uprights III secured by bolts II2 to framework I. Rectangular frame I09 provides a suitable anchorage means'for the opposite end of the inverting mechanism.

The inverting mechanism comprises a plurality of helically wound guide rods rigidly welded or otherwise secured between frames I02 .and I09.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, rod I I3 is secured atone end to the.top of frame I02 at H4 and is helically wound'to the opposite end secured to the bottom of frame I 09 at 5..

Rods H6 'and I" extend from side II8 of frame I02 to side II9 of frame I09. Rods I20 and I2I extend from side I22 of frame I02 to side I23 of frame I09. Rods H6, 1, I20, and I2I are helically wound similar to rod H3 and each extends in parallel relationship to rod II3. v

Rod H3 at frame I02 engages the topedge of the container body discharged from the applicating mechanism and follows such edge during the twisting of the container body, which edge at the discharge end of the inverting mechanism will be on the bottom. Rods IIS and III are in opposed relationship with rods I29 and I2I and serve as guide means at the sides of the container bodies during the twisting operation. The inverting mechanism reverses the ends of the container bodies by which they are rested on their uncoated end.

The coated ends of the container bodies, after being discharged from the'applicating mechanism, are held out of contact with the device to prevent scraping and rubbing with elements of the device. This is accomplished by means of frictional engagement directed against the side wall of the container bodies.

The frictional engagement means comprises a metal strap I25 having a plurality of threaded openings I28, which strap horizontally extends from plate III to side II8 of frame I02 and from path defined between rods H6 and H1. Strap I25 is secured at one end to plate 10 by bolt H and to frame I02 by welding or in any other suitable manner. Strap I at its opposite end is rigidly secured to standard I21 by nut I28. Standard I21 is rigidly secured to beam I29 of framework I. A plurality of brushes I30 are adjustably secured on strap I25 by means of spindles I3I in engagement with threaded openings I26.

Brushes I30 are provided with bristles I32 adapted to impinge against the side walls of container bodies 25. Bristles I32 are of a rather stiff, coarse type and are suitably adjusted to I firmly support the container bodies with the least resistance to their forward movement.

Plate I33 is rigidly secured to side I22 of frame I02 and serves to hold the container bodies in engagement with bristles I32 during their travel between the applicating mechanism and the inverting mechanism.

Guard member I34 having a flared end I35 is welded or otherwise secured to the top of frame I02 and serves as a guide means for directing the uncoated ends of the container bodies into the inverting mechanism.

Container bodies 25 are impelled through the inverting mechanism by force of succeeding container bodies conveyed through the applicating mechanism.

Container bodies 25 are introduced to the applicating device by endless conveyor I36, comprising endless chains I31 and I38 extending from a loading point not shown. As the container bodies are discharged from conveyor I36, they are im, pelled by the force of succeeding bodies through channel I39 to the applicating mechanism. Channel I39 is defined on the one side by guide plate 10 and on the opposite side by guide plate I40 rigidly secured to upright MI by bolts I42, secured to framework I by bolts I43. Plate I40 extends from a source not shown to end I44 adjacent pulley wheel 16 and serves to direct the container bodies to the working area of belt 15.

Channel I39 is provided at its bottom with guard member I45 welded or otherwise secured to cross-member I46 extending between uprights 14 and MI. Guard member I45 is terminated .in close proximity to roller I0 and serves to elevate the container bodies traveling thereover to the uppermost plane of roller I0.

Endless chains I31'and I38 of conveyor I36 I are driven by sprocket wheels I41 and I48'pinflu ioned to shaft I49- journaled in bearings I50. Bearings I50 are slidably mounted upon brackets I5I secured to uprights 14 and MI by bolts I52. Bearings I50 are adjusted to a fixed position on brackets I5I by means of bolts I53 pivotally secured in uprights 14 and MI.

Shaft I49 is driven by chain I54 trained between sprocket wheels I55 and I56 pinioned to shafts I49 and I51, respectively. Shaft I 51 is journaled in bearings I58 secured to uprights 14 and I4I by bolts I59. Shaft I51 is driven by chain I60 trained between sprocket wheels I56a and I62 pinioned to shafts I51 and I63, respectively. Shaft I63 is journaled in bearings I64 integral with brackets I65 secured to framework I by bolts I6I. Chain I60 in its travel between sprocket wheels I56a and I62 is guided over idler sprockets I66 and I61 to prevent interference of the chain I60 with other parts of the device. Shaft I63 is driven by chain I66 mounted upon sprocket wheel I69 and connected by suitable gearing toa motor not shown.

As the container bodies 25 are discharged from the inverting mechanism, they pass on to conveyor I10 by which they are carried to a crimping mechanism. Conveyor I10 consists of endless chains HI and I12 mounted on-sprocket wheels I13 and I14 pinioned to shaft I15 journaled in suitable bearings not shown. Conveyor I10 is preferably connected by suitable gearing to the same source of power as conveyor I36 and operates in synchronism with conveyor I36.

Conveyors I36 and I10 are also synchronized with belt 15 by which container bodies 25 will travel from the loading point, through the applicating mechanism, the inverting mechanism, and on to the crimping operation, in an uninterrupted manner. In the operation of the ,device, container bodies are successively loaded upon conveyor I36 with one of their ends resting on conveyor elements I 31 and I38. As the container bodies are discharged from conveyor I36, they are slidably urged forward on guide member I45 between plates 10 and I40 to the uppermost plane of coating roller I0.

' The container bodies are rotatably conveyed between the ends of roller I0 by endless belt 15 in operative relationship with plate 10. Due to the manner in which plate 10 is mounted with respect to roller I0, the container bodies rotatably traverse the longitudinal surface of roller I0, with an ever-changing portion of the lower ends thereof in substantially tangential engagement with the outer surface of roller I0 and with the portion of the inner peripheral edge corresponding to the end portion in engagement with roller I0, in opposed relationship to the rotation of roller I0.

A continuous film of congealable material is carried by roller I0 from a supply contained in tray 8 by which the lower ends of the container bodies, as they are rotated in engagement with roller I0, are coated with the material and simultaneously an endless bead of the material is deposited upon the inner peripheral edges of the container bodies adjacent the coated ends. The film of compound on roller I0 is regulated to a predetermined thickness by adjustment of roller 33 to or from roller I0.

As the container bodies are discharged from the applicating mechanism, the coated edges are held out of contact with elements of the device by means of plate I33 and bristles I32 of brushes I30. The container bodies are urged forward between plate I33 and bristles I32 by force of succeeding container bodies discharged from the applicating mechanism and thence through the inverting mechanism. The inverting mechanism serves to reverse the ends of the container bodies, by which the container bodies are rested upon the uncoated ends. with the coated ends out of engagement with the device. The container bodies, after their discharge from the inverting mechanism, pass on to conveyor I10, by'which they are carried to a crimping mechanism.

' I claim:

1. The method of coating the end and adjacent inner peripheral edge of a tubular container body which comprises continuously rotating-the con tainer body in,a vertical plane above a moving film on a cylindrical surfacehaving a horizontal f axis, a portion of the end being continuously tion of the inner peripheral edgeagainst the direction of movement of the movable film.

2. The method of coating the end and inner adjacent peripheral edge of a tubular container body which comprises continuously rotating the container body in a vertical plane above a moving film on a cylindrical surface having a horizontal axis and simultaneously "moving the container body longitudinally of the movable film, a portion of the end of the tubular body being continuously maintained in contact with the movable fllm in the vertical plane of the axis of the CHARLES T. WALTER. 

